Denver is largely urban so WUI brush-clearance rules apply mainly to properties near open space, South Platte River corridors, and mountain parks. DRMC Chapter 24 (Weeds) and the Denver Fire Code (DRMC Chapter 9) require removal of combustible vegetation and dry grass exceeding 10 inches tall.
Denver's fire code (DRMC Chapter 9, adopting the International Fire Code with amendments) empowers the Denver Fire Department (DFD) to order removal of combustible vegetation constituting a fire hazard. DRMC §24-101 (weed ordinance) requires property owners to keep weeds and grass below 10 inches. Properties adjacent to Denver Mountain Parks (Red Rocks, Genesee, Lookout Mountain) and areas near the South Platte River and Bear Creek corridors receive additional scrutiny during fire season. Colorado does not have a statewide defensible-space mandate like California's PRC §4291, but DFD coordinates with CO Department of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) on Front Range WUI guidance. After the Marshall Fire (December 2021) in Boulder County destroyed 1,084 homes, Front Range enforcement tightened. Denver's Department of Public Health and Environment (DDPHE) inspects complaints. Tall-grass abatement notices typically give 10 days to comply before the city mows at owner expense.
Weed/vegetation notice: 10-day compliance window. City abatement billed to owner at $200 to $1,000+ plus administrative fee. DRMC §24-101 violation: up to $999 fine. Fire code violations can be charged per day uncured.
Denver County, CO
Denver DRMC Chapter 36 sets quiet hours 11 PM–7 AM in residential zones. Residential limit is 55 dBA daytime, 50 dBA nighttime. Violations can reach $5,000/day.
Denver County, CO
Denver has no outright ban on leaf blowers but phases in restrictions on gas-powered commercial landscape equipment. DRMC Chapter 36 noise limits apply, and ...
Denver County, CO
Denver requires driveways to meet setback and width standards. Blocking the public sidewalk is prohibited. Curb cuts require a permit from DOTI.
Denver County, CO
Denver limits large commercial vehicle parking on residential streets to 2 hours. A 2023 ordinance expanded restrictions citywide. Trucks used for active wor...
Denver County, CO
Denver requires a zoning permit for fences between 4–6 feet. Over-height (6+ ft) fences require an additional over-height fence permit. Historic properties r...
Denver County, CO
Colorado's Good Neighbor Fence Act (C.R.S. §35-46-112) applies. Denver does not mandate cost-sharing, but neighbors may negotiate. Disputes over boundary fen...
See how Denver County's brush clearance rules stack up against other locations.
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